PAWTUCKET- Red
Sox 3B Mike Lowell began his rehab assignment with the
PawSox by driving in two runs as
Pawtucket beat the Syracuse Chiefs, 6-1, in the finale of a three game series Friday night at McCoy.
As the PawSox DH in his first action since being placed on the disabled list with a sore left thumb, Lowell finished the game going 1 for 5. He drove in two runs on a bases loaded single in the second. He had a broken bat pop-up to short in the first, lined out to center in the fifth, fouled out to third in the sixth, a popped out to second in the eighth.
After his outing Lowell said his thumb felt fine.
“I was actually happy,” said Lowell, “Overall I can’t think of anything negative, so that’s good.”
“How exciting was that when he came up with the bases loaded” said PawSox Manager Ron Johnson, “I got a guy with 120 RBIs coming up with the bases loaded. He didn’t let us down.”
“He’s such a great example for everybody. This guy’s the ultimate professional.”
Lowell is slated to play third base Saturday night when the PawSox open a three game series in Buffalo.
The PawSox got on the board in the bottom of the second, scoring four times. Chris Carter and Keith Ginter led off with singles. After Jeff Bailey popped up to first, Gil Velazquez blooped what appeared to be a single to right. However it turned into a fielder’s choice as Ginter was forced at second. Carter did score on the play.
Velasquez then stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. After Jonathan Van Every walked, Joe Thurston singled to left to drive in Velazquez.. George Kottaras walked to load the bases. Lowell followed by drilling a 3-1 pitch to center to score Van Every and Thurston. Kottaras was thrown out at third to end the inning.
Van Every gave the PawSox a 5-0 with a solo homer to left in the bottom of the fourth.
The PawSox offense added to their lead in the fifth. With one out, Brandon Moss singled off Chiefs’ pitcher Mike MacDonald. He then stole second and scored on a double by Carter.
Chris Smith (1-2) earned his first win of the season for Pawtucket, pitching six scoreless innings and giving up only one hit. His only blemish came in the fifth inning. He gave up a single to C Curtis Thigpen and walked 1B Chris Cannon to start the frame. He then settled down, getting a pair of fly outs and a ground out to end the threat. His ERA dropped to 1.71.
“The innings were going by so quick, it was a matter of coming in and I had to put my helmet on and get back out to third”, Johnson said of Smith’s efficiency. “He was really locked in. A very impressive performance.”
The Chiefs scored their only run in the eighth off PawSox reliever Edgar Martinez. LF Eric Nielsen tripled to right and scored on a ground out by Pedro Lopez. The PawSox staff limited Syracuse to only two hits.
“Any time you get two guys to give up only two hits against Syracuse, that’s pretty good” said Johnson.
Syracuse starter Kane Davis had a rough outing, lasting only three innings, giving up four runs and taking the loss.
Here is what happened across the rest of the International League last night..
